Tensioning device for braiding machines



Sept'. 11, 1928. 1,683,898

W. C. JOHNSON TENSIONING DEVICE FOR BRAIDING MACHINES Filed July 17,1925 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM 0.. JOHNSQN OE PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

TENSIONING DEVICE FOR BRAIDING MACHINES.

Application filed July-17, 1925. Serial No. 44','2a0.

This invention relates to an improvement in tensioning devices for theunbraided elastic warp thread of a braiding machine,and'

has for its objectto provide such a tensioning device which is moreparticularly adapted to apply the desired amount of tensionto anunbraided elastic warp at a pointintermediate its supply and its pointof braiding. A further object of this invention is to provide anindividual tensioning device for each individual warp thread, wherebythe desired amount of tension may be applied to each. t

- A further object of the invention is the positioning of the tensioningdevice at a point well above the raceway plate and in as close proximityto the point of braiding as possible so as to reduce the length of thestretched portion and the loss from breakage to the minimum.

A still further object of this invention is the provision ofmeansbelow'the plate for regulating the amount of tension applied to thewarpat a point above the plate. I

The invention further consists in the provision of a set of cooperatingfixed and adjustable corrugated members arranged to act upon the Warpthread at a point above the raceway plate, and to provide a tensionweight below this plate which is connected to the'tension membersthrough the tubular warp conducting stud. V i 7 8 With these and otherobjects in view, the

invention consists of certain novel features Figure 1 is av plan view ofa fragmental portion of the raceway plate showingthe elastic warpthreads as .led from the warp guide post towards the braiding center.

Figure 2 ista perspective view of the adjustable member of thetensioning device.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the relatively fixed member of thetensioning device. V v

Figure 1 is a sectionalside elevation showing a portion of the braidingmachine with the warp tensioning device mounted'thereon. Figure 5 is a.modification showing the warp tension teeth or corrugations as castintegral with the guide post.

In some instances particularly in the braiding of elasticwebbing aplurality of the elastic threads are drawn from a single supply and thetension beam which is located below the raceway plate, and these threadsare then led through tubular studs in the plates to the braiding point,and that when so led often times the tension of theseelastic threads isquite uniform; then 'again'by this arrangement tension is exerted uponthe threads through an extended length thereof between the beam and thebraiding point, thus necessitating considerable waste by breakage of'thetlireads;'and to obviate this difficulty, I have found in the practicalconstruction and operation of such a braiding machine, it to be ofadvantage to-position the tensioning device at a point above the racewayplate and in as close proximity to the point of braiding as possible soas to reduce the length of the portion under tension and the loss frombreakage to the minimum; sec- .gaged and again connected into the fabricat the point of braiding. It is also found of advantage to positionweights below the braider plates and connect the same-through thetubular warp studs to apply the proper amount of tension tothetensioning device,

mounted above the quoit plates, and 'the following-is a detaileddescription of the pres entembodiment otmy invention showing one meansbywhich these results may be accomplishedzf I v I With reference to thedrawings, '10 designates the upper raceway plate, the quoits 11 of whichare herein shownas being supported from the bottom plate 12 bytubularstuds 13. Azsleeve 14 onthe stud serves as a spacer for said plates andalso as a bearing for the gear 15 of thedriving train, which gear alsohas horns 16 for driving the carrier. notshown. This tubular stud'13 isthreaded at its opposite ends and is set to bind its plates in positionagainst the ends of the sleeve 14 by'nuts 17. The upper end of this tubeprojects above its upper nut 17 and a warp guide post 18 is mountedthereon. On this warp guide post, I have mounted a Warp threadtensioning device, the fixed member of which is herein shown asformed ofa sheet metal plate 19 havingtransverse teeth or corrugations 20, theplate bein provided with interned fingers 21 at its upper and lowerends, which are riveted through the holes 22, to the post.

This fixed, corrugated member is provided a its upper end with a pair oflaterallyextending inclined guide members 23 which are for the purposepresently described. The engaging edges of the teeth 20 of this fixedmember, are preferably grooved slight ly as at 2-1 to guide the warpthread 25 as it passes thereover and over the upper roll on its way tothe center braiding point 26. Cooperating with this fixed corrugatedtension plate is anadjustable tension plate 27, preferably also formedof sheet stock and whichisprovided with-a set of cooperating.

teeth 28 adapted to intermesh with the teeth 20, ofthe'fixed member forthe purpose of engaging the warp thread between them to re'ss or forceit to take a zi za course in passing over the edges of these teeth. Inorder to cause thismovable tension 8 member to force the warp threadinwardly between the teeth, I have provided a pair of inclinedhook-shaped fingers 29 near its up 1 per end, whiehhook over theinclined guide wings orme'mbers23, and I have suspended a weight 30below the bottomiplate 12 of the machine by a cord "31 which extends upthrough the tubular stud 13 and is attached at 32 to the lower end ofthis movable tension plate 27. Itwillbe .noted that this lower end ofthe movable tension plate is offset outwardly from the line of pullthrough the tubular stud and'thus the tension on the same has a tendencytodraw the lower end of the plate into closer engagementwith' the fixedplate, the inclination of the hook fingers 29 on the inclined member23also assist in serving to draw the upper portion of the corrugatedmembers into closer engagement Therefore, when a lighttension isrequiredon the warp 25 a comparatively light weight 1 30 is mounted to apply-thetension to the plate 27, thus permitting the drag of the warp thread toact upon the plate and lift its teeth somewhat out of deep engagementwith the fixed plate, and when a greater tension is required more weightis applied at 30 which serves to effect a deeper engagement of theseteeth and so accentuate the zigzag course of the warp thread through thecorrugatedtension members. I

The upp'erendof this movable plate 27 is guided laterally by theinturned guide r; Bythisconstruction; it will be seen that the tensionis applied to the warp thread at a point above the raceway plate and inproximity to tlie point of braiding.

. Then again, each individual thread has its tension,.and third, thetension weights are mounted below the body of the braiding machine outof the way and in position where the weight members thereon, may bereadily adjusted. 1

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the constructionillustrated,

but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege ofresorting to, all the mechan-' tending upward above said plate asubstantial distance a war thread'tensionin de- 7 b vice operativelymounted on said postcomprising a pair of members extending along thelength of the thread to engage the same,

and a weight located below said plate and having a connection extendingthrough said opening for applying a tensioning action to said members toI the thread.

2. In a braiding machine having a racemore or less firmlyengage wayplate with an opening therein for the passage of a'warp thread, a warpguide post on said plate adjacent said opening, a warp tensioning devicemounted on said post comprising a set of cooperating fixed andadjustable corrugated members arranged to act upon the warp thread, anda ten sion' weight below said plate and a cord extending from saidweight through said opening to said adjustable corrugated meniber to actthereon. v

8. In a braiding machine havinga bottom' plate and an upper racewayplateconnected by a. tubular stud through whichrhe' warp is led, a fixedwarp guide post on saidupper plate, cooperating adjustable warptensioning members carried by said post, and a tension weight: belowsaid bottom plate con nected through said stud I tension members. e

4:. In a braiding machinehaving top and bottom plates, a tubularconducting warp stud extending through saidplates, 'a-warp postextending upward above said stud, a set of cooperating corrugatedtension members mounted on said post engaging the warp thread, a tensioncord extending from one of said members through said stud, and a weighton said cordbelow said bottom plate for applying tension'to the warpthrough said member.

5. In a braiding machine,a,tensionfdevice comprising-maimand auxiliarymemto one of said bers each having cooperating interengagingcorrugations, an inclined engaging support by which one of said membersis suspended in proximity to its complemental member tending to moveone'into closer engagement with the other to increase the tension on thethread passing between'them;

6. In a braiding machine, a tension device comprising main and auxiliarymembers each having cooperatinginterengaging corrugations, an inclinedengaging support by which one of said members is suspended in proximityto its complemental member tending to move one into closer engagementwith the other to increase the tension on the thread passing betweenthem, and cooperating means further assisting to draw said tensionmembers closer together. v

7. In a braiding machine, a tension device having cooperatinginterengaging corrugations, an inclined engaging supportby which one ofsaid members is 'suspnded in proximity to its complemental membertending to move them into closer engagement one with the other toincrease the tension on the inclined support by which the movable memheris suspended tending to draw the two together, and a weight suspendedbelow said plate andconnected to said movable member to furtherassist'in exerting a tension on the warp thread passing between saidmovable and fixed members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM C, JOHNSON.

